North Koreans tour on a vessel on the Yalu river outside Sinuiju, North Korea, opposite the Chinese border...

North Koreans tour on a vessel on the Yalu river outside Sinuiju, North Korea, opposite the Chinese border city of Dandong, in Liaoning province, China during the Labour Day holiday May 1, 2019. REUTERS/Jacky Chen

RTX6NWBP

February 22, 2019

Men walk past concrete piers near a North Korean flag at a shipyard in Sinuiju, North Korea February...

Men walk past concrete piers near a North Korean flag at a shipyard in Sinuiju

Men walk past concrete piers near a North Korean flag at a shipyard in Sinuiju, North Korea February 20, 2019. Picture taken February 20, 2019 from the Yalu river which separates North Korea and China. REUTERS/Jacky Chen

RTS20M8J

September 09, 2018

North Koreans tour on a vessel on the Yalu river outside Sinuiju, North Korea, opposite the Chinese border...

North Koreans tour on a vessel on the Yalu river outside Sinuiju, North Korea, opposite the Chinese border city of Dandong, on the 70th anniversary of North Korea's foundation, September 9, 2018. REUTERS/Jacky Chen

RTS20M8I

September 09, 2018

A man cycles past a North Korean soldier in Sinuiju, North Korea, on the 70th anniversary of North Korea's...

A man cycles past a North Korean soldier in Sinuiju, North Korea, on the 70th anniversary of North Korea's foundation, September 9, 2018. Picture taken from the Yalu river which separates North Korea and China. REUTERS/Jacky Chen

RTX66A70

May 26, 2018

Workers at the construction site of a building in Sinuiju, North Korea are seen from Dandong, Liaoning...

North Korean fishermen are seen as a Chinese flag flutters from the Broken Bridge as the sun sets over the Yalu River between the North Korean town of Sinuiju and Dandong in Liaoning Province, China, November 19, 2017. In the Chinese city of Dandong, signs of neighbouring North Korea are pervasive. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj SEARCH "SAGOLJ ROAD TRIP" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

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April 12, 2018

A man looks through binoculars towards North Korea on the Broken Bridge over the Yalu River that connects...

A man looks through binoculars towards North Korea on the Broken Bridge over the Yalu River that connects the North Korean town of Sinuiju and Dandong in Liaoning Province, China, November 19, 2017. In the Chinese city of Dandong, signs of neighbouring North Korea are pervasive. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj SEARCH "SAGOLJ ROAD TRIP" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

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April 12, 2018

A North Korean border guard, photographed from the Chinese side of border north of Dandong in China,...

A North Korean border guard, photographed from the Chinese side of border north of Dandong in China, takes position at Hekou's Broken Bridge over the Yalu River, north of the towns of Sinuiju in North Korea, November 20, 2017. A week-long road trip along China's side of its border with North Korea showed places where it is porous. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj SEARCH "SAGOLJ ROAD TRIP" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

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April 12, 2018

A ferris wheel, photographed from the Chinese side of the border across the Yalu River from Dandong in...

A ferris wheel, photographed from the Chinese side of the border across the Yalu River from Dandong in Liaoning Province, China is seen near the town of Sinuiju in North Korea, November 19, 2017. In the Chinese city of Dandong, signs of neighbouring North Korea are pervasive. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj SEARCH "SAGOLJ ROAD TRIP" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

RTX5N7AB

April 12, 2018

North Korean fishermen are seen as a Chinese flag flutters from the Broken Bridge as the sun sets over...

North Korean fishermen are seen as a Chinese flag flutters from the Broken Bridge as the sun sets over the Yalu River between the North Korean town of Sinuiju and Dandong in Liaoning Province, China, November 19, 2017. In the Chinese city of Dandong, signs of neighbouring North Korea are pervasive. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj SEARCH "SAGOLJ ROAD TRIP" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

RTX5N7A7

April 12, 2018

A man looks through binoculars towards North Korea on the Broken Bridge over the Yalu River that connects...

A man looks through binoculars towards North Korea on the Broken Bridge over the Yalu River that connects the North Korean town of Sinuiju and Dandong in Liaoning Province, China, November 19, 2017. In the Chinese city of Dandong, signs of neighbouring North Korea are pervasive. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj SEARCH "SAGOLJ ROAD TRIP" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

RTX5N78V

April 12, 2018

A ferris wheel, photographed from the Chinese side of the border across the Yalu River from Dandong in...

A ferris wheel, photographed from the Chinese side of the border across the Yalu River from Dandong in Liaoning Province, China, is seen near the town of Sinuiju in North Korea, November 19, 2017. In the Chinese city of Dandong, signs of neighbouring North Korea are pervasive. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj SEARCH "SAGOLJ ROAD TRIP" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

RTX5N755

April 12, 2018

A North Korean border guard, photographed from Chinese side of border north of Dandong in China takes...

A North Korean border guard, photographed from Chinese side of border north of Dandong in China takes position at Hekou's Broken Bridge over the Yalu River, north of the towns of Sinuiju in North Korea, November 20, 2017. A week-long road trip along China's side of its border with North Korea showed places where it is porous. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj SEARCH "SAGOLJ ROAD TRIP" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

RTS1L8UQ

January 01, 2018

Men row a fishing boat past beached ships by the bank of the Yalu river near Sinuiju, North Korea December...

Men row a fishing boat past beached ships by the bank of the Yalu river near Sinuiju

Men row a fishing boat past beached ships by the bank of the Yalu river near Sinuiju, North Korea December 31, 2017. Picture taken December 31, 2017 from China's side of the Yalu river. REUTERS/Jacky Chen

RTX3FIER

September 10, 2017

North Korean people take a tour on a vessel on the Yalu river outside Sinuiju, North Korea, opposite...

North Korean people take a tour on a vessel on the Yalu river outside Sinuiju, North Korea, opposite...

North Korean people take a tour on a vessel on the Yalu river outside Sinuiju, North Korea, opposite the Chinese border city of Dandong, September 9, 2017. Picture taken September 9, 2017. Picture taken on a boat from the Chinese side of the Yalu River. REUTERS/Jacky Chen TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

RTX3FIEQ

September 10, 2017

North Korean people take a tour on a vessel on the Yalu river outside Sinuiju, North Korea, opposite...

North Korean people take a tour on a vessel on the Yalu river outside Sinuiju, North Korea, opposite...

North Korean people take a tour on a vessel on the Yalu river outside Sinuiju, North Korea, opposite the Chinese border city of Dandong, September 9, 2017. Picture taken September 9, 2017. Picture taken on a boat from the Chinese side of the Yalu River. REUTERS/Jacky Chen

RTX3FIEP

September 10, 2017

North Korean people take a tour on a vessel on the Yalu river outside Sinuiju, North Korea, opposite...

North Korean people take a tour on a vessel on the Yalu river outside Sinuiju, North Korea, opposite...

North Korean people take a tour on a vessel on the Yalu river outside Sinuiju, North Korea, opposite the Chinese border city of Dandong, September 9, 2017. Picture taken September 9, 2017. Picture taken on a boat from the Chinese side of the Yalu River. REUTERS/Jacky Chen

RTX3FEE8

September 09, 2017

North Koreans sit on an oxcart on the bank of the Yalu River in Sinuiju, North Korea, which borders Dandong...

A man gestures from the North Korean side of the Yalu River as a Chinese boat sails by with tourists...

A man gestures from the North Korean side of the Yalu River as a Chinese boat sails by with tourists near Sinuiju in North Korea and Dandong in China's Liaoning Province, April 2, 2017. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

RTX347TR

April 05, 2017

A girl gestures from the North Korean side of the Yalu River as a boat with Chines tourists sails by...

Men rest on the North Korean side of the Yalu River north of the town of Sinuiju, North Korea, March 31, 2017. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj SEARCH "DANDONG BORDER" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

RTX33XRE

April 03, 2017

North Korean soldiers react as a boat sails from the Chinese side of the Yalu River, north of the North...

North Korean soldiers react as a boat sails from the Chinese side of the Yalu River, north of the North Korean town of Sinuiju and Dandong in China's Liaoning province, March 30, 2017. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj SEARCH "DANDONG BORDER" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

RTX33XR1

April 03, 2017

In the Northeast Asia Special Region straddling China's border with North Korea, the area around Nanping...

In the Northeast Asia Special Region straddling China's border with North Korea, the area around Nanping village is dotted with half-finished buildings, cranes on empty lots, piles of concrete pipes and a few construction workers. What was planned in 2011 as a 30 billion yuan ($4.36 billion) development intended to showcase economic engagement between the two countries has stalled in recent months. No reasons have been given and no announcements have been made in official media. About 700 km (430 miles) to the south, near the city of Dandong, the New Yalu River Bridge connecting the two countries lies unfinished. It was planned in 2010 at a cost of 2.2 billion yuan, but stands now as a monument to the slowdown in economic ties. A Reuters team visiting the area saw some signs of trade - trucks coming across another bridge over the Yalu and boats being loaded with goods on the North Korean side of the river. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj SEARCH "DANDONG BORDER" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY